Eight Dollar Mountain lives up to it’s notable name, somewhat unusual in an area that has may nameless mountains. On a topo map it looks like one of the nearby Cascades, a very definite cone not attached to the nearby hills, but it’s doesn’t share their volcanic origins. I was surprised it had never been activated as there is a (very steep) jeep track to the research station on the summit, and the trailhead is just a mile or so from highway 199.
An easily accessed summit, that's easily access from the Nestucca River byway. A bunch of different roads will lead you into the area from nearly any direction. Probably the easiest is up Fan Creek Road from the Nestucca River. It is near enough to Boudary road to access several other nearby summits along the same ridgeline.
I was in Spokane with my wife, who was presenting some research at a conference (I'm retired, she's the "breadwinner" now) and had some time to kill. I brought my KX2 along, with a QRPGuys 40m-10m UnUnTenna. This is a fairly simple antenna, with wire mated to a 9:1 unun, and takes a bnc coax jumper from the KX2. After a hike up from the parking area, I found a good place to set up, and threw a messenger line up into a tree.
A one point summit that you might want to do along with close by Cedar Butte, Triangulation Point, Blue Ridge or Peak 2300.
Good parking along the road in a pullout (during winter). Note for winter ascents, stay left of the track at the bottom so you keep high. Do not go right into the quarry as you will need to climb out. We had to snowshoe up mud! We stayed high on the descent. On your climb up, work your way to the left hand summit ridge. No trail and steep, but doable. Metal posts at the top to strap antenna to. Great views
In the summer you may be able to drive into the gravel quarry and take other ridgelines.
This is becoming a popular summit and may be one of the most accessable summits in the Boise area. This is about an hour drive from Boise however. The parking is always good as they plow the side road next to Little Camas Reservoir. Snowmobile activity is present in the winter and also park along the road. The snowmobile tracks can help with a winter track up the lower slopes.
In the summer, this track (below) can be used, but a shorter/direct route can be found if you park in a pull-out SW of the summit on Hwy20.
4.0 miles (+2340, -1090) from Bighorn Lake; 15.2 mile approach from Dearborn TH
We made this part of a 4-day backpacking trip that included W7M/CL-082 (Peak 7676) and W7M/CL-008 (Caribou Peak). See also the trip reports for these summits. The trip report for W7M/CL-082 describes trailhead parking at the Dearborn Trailhead & the initial portion of the trail to our campsite on the Continental Divide between Blacktail Creek and the Lander’s Fork.
0.7 miles (+940 feet, -190 feet) from saddle; 12.2 mile approach from Dearborn TH
We made this part of a 4-day backpacking trip that included W7M/CL-057 (Peak 7676) and W7M/CL-008 (Caribout Peak). See also the trip reports for these summits. The trip report for W7M/CL-082 describes trailhead parking at the Dearborn Trailhead & the initial portion of the trail to our campsite on the Continental Divide between Blacktail Creek and the Lander’s Fork.